SPICY NOODLES WITH CRAB

Noodles are an important part of Chinese New Year because they stand for longevity and we made a delicious and spicy version with crab. So does that mean a spicy & crabby new year?

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 garlic cloves, diced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, finely diced
• 6 green onions (dark green parts removed. 3 finely diced/3 roughly sliced - garnish)
• noodles
• 1 cup chilled cooked crab meat, flaked
• 2 tablespoons chili sauce

Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons tomato ketchup
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon corn starch  

DIRECTIONS

1. Prep EVERYTHING first: chop, mix your sauce, get big pot boiling water going, then preheat your wok on high
2. Add noodles to boiling water... while they cook, get cooking in the wok...
3. Add oil to hot wok, add ginger, garlic and crab, chill sauce, cook for 1 minute, then stir in sauce mix - cook 2 minutes to thicken
4. Noodles cook in 4-5 minutes, drain, add to wok ingredients, coat in sauce, cook for 1 more minute. Serve, garnished with chopped spring onions.

HOT AND SOUR SOUP

Classic ‘hot & sour’ soup. Though you can certainly add chicken, pork or whatever you like, we’ve made this with only shiitakes & tofu…but you won’t miss the meat, trust me.

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups chicken broth
• 8 ounces firm tofu, cubed into a medium dice
• 4 Shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and thinly sliced
• 1-2 tablespoons chili paste
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 3 tablespoons corn starch
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 egg, beaten

DIRECTIONS

1. In medium saucepan bring chicken broth to a boil
2. Add mushrooms, tofu & chili paste - let boil a couple minutes
3. Stir in soy, vinegar and pepper - mix well
4. In small bowl mix corn starch & water until smooth, and stir into the broth
5. Simmer 5 minutes until broth thickens, then turn off heat
6. While stirring broth in a circular direction (take your pic) pour in the egg from several inches above the pot in a very slow stream to create ribbons
7. Serve - Gung Hay Fat Choy!

 WATCH ME MAKE THIS

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SPAGHETTI WITH BACON & PEPPERS

Those adorable little sweet & hot cherry peppers make an important appearance in this super simple pasta.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 lb spaghetti
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1/2 cup jarred hot & sweet cherry peppers, diced
• 1/3 cup cream
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup cooked bacon, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• freshly ground pepper
• Kosher salt

DIRECTIONS

1. In deep skillet or wok, cook bacon for 15 mins, remove when crispy, keep 2 tablespoons fat in skillet
2. Using same skillet, add onion, soften for 4 minutes
3. Turn heat to low, add garlic cook for minute, add peppers, season with Kosher salt and fresh pepper
4. Cook pasta according to pack instructions, drain when 'al dente' (keep a cup of cooking water)
5. Add cream and parmesan to skillet, cook on medium/low for 3-4 minutes to thicken
6. Add pasta and 1/2 cup pasta water to skillet, mix in bacon and parsley, eat!

TIP: You could freeze remaining bacon fat and use for something else.

WATCH SAM COOK THIS >>> 

Squash Ravioli

What do you get when you pair a Chinese wrapper, a garden vegetable and Italian style cheese? You get this!

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pack frozen wonton wrappers, defrost 4 hours in advance
• 1 cup cooked squash puree (I found this in freezer section, but you can make fresh)
• 1 cup ricotta
• 2oz spinach
• 1/4 cup fresh parmesan cheese, shredded
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1/8-1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 4 tablespoons butter

DIRECTIONS

1. Boil large pot water, add spinach cook 1 minute then scoop it out – keep water in pan
2. Remove water from spinach using sieve and back of a large spoon, dice finely
3. In large bowl mix ricotta, squash puree, spinach, cayenne, salt and pepper, parmesan – chill in fridge for 30 minutes
4. Lay out the wrappers, place generous teaspoon mixture in middle of each, fold in half, pinch edges to seal (push out the air bubbles)
5. Drop a batch of 8 raviolis, gently into boiling water, fish them out when float on the top – about 2 minutes
6. In medium skillet on low cook butter until nutty brow color, add ravioli to skillet, cook in butter on medium for 1 minute each side, serve!

WATCH SAM MAKE THIS >>>

Spaghetti Frittata

If you’ve ever wondered what to do with leftover spaghetti besides eating it as is, here’s your answer. And before you laugh…just know this is really good. Stupidly good in fact.

Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS

• 3 eggs

• 1  1/2 cup cooked, leftover spaghetti

• 1/4 cup marinara sauce (or use my EVERYDAY TOMATO SAUCE recipe) 

• 2 tablespoons butter

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground pepper

• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan  

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Beat eggs, season with salt and pepper 

3. Melt butter on medium heat in non-stick medium sized skillet, add spaghetti and sauce, heat through, about 1 minute

4. Turn heat down to low, pour in the beaten eggs and stir well to make sure everything is evenly combined

5. Top with Parmesan and leave alone to the bottom set, like making an omelet - cook about 2 minutes

6. Put on the middle shelf of the oven and cook for 10 minutes or until fully set and firm

WATCH SAM MAKE THIS >>> 

MAC N GOAT CHEESE

Who says you need cheddar to make mac & cheese – cuz we certainly don’t. In an attempt to use up some leftover crumbled goat cheese, we create a super delicious mac that hopefully you’ll love – cuz we certainly did.

Serves 4 

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 lb Macaroni
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup All purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 1 cup crumbly goat cheese, not the log type (keep few crumbles for topping)
• Good pinch Kosher salt
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon fresh black pepper  
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper  
• 1/2 small bag spinach
• 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven 350
2. In medium pan on low/medium heat, melt butter (don't let it color), add flour, mix well to make a roux, continuously whisk in milk gradually
3. Add goat cheese to sauce, add black pepper and cayenne pepper
4. Boil large pot salted water, cook until "al dente", for the last minute add the spinach, stir, then drain
5. Stir cooked pasta and spinach to sauce, decant into 8x8 casserole dish or deep cast iron skillet like me
6. Top with bread crumbs and remaining goat cheese crumbles, cook for 35 minutes and eat!

TIP:  you could throw in a handful bacon pieces!

Chicken Piccata

This is full of flavor, and one of the most simple meals, worth a try.

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

• Chicken breast, flattened with rolling pin or buy boneless & skinless filets

• 1/2 cup plain flour

• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

• pinch ground cayenne pepper

• 3 tablespoon butter

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1/4 cup dry vermouth or white wine

• 1/2 lemon, juice

• 3 tablespoons capers

• 2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped (keep some for garnish)

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix flour, salt, cayenne and pepper 

2. Dust the chicken in flour mix, on both sides

3. In large skillet, on medium heat 1 tablespoon butter and add oil, when butter is turning golden add chicken, cook 3 minutes each side, remove and cover with foil

4. In same skillet, deglaze the pan with vermouth, add lemon juice, capers, salt and pepper, 2 tablespoons butter, cook for 2 minutes, throw parsley at the end

5. Serve the chicken filet covered in sauce, garnish with chopped parsley

WA TCH SAM MAKE THIS>>>

Stuffed and Braided Pizza

This is the epitome of outstandingness! 

Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS

• 1 can refrigerated thin pizza dough crust
• 10 Spanish Chorizo slices
• 6 Provalone slices  
• 1 packed cup, spinach
• 10-12 slices Genoa Salami  
• 1/2 teaspoon dried Oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• big pinch Kosher salt  
• 3-4 grinds fresh black pepper  
• 1 cup marinara sauce (I used my EVERYDAY TOMATO SAUCE) 

DIRECTIONS

1. Stretch out the pizza dough to rectangle, about 10" on short ends
2. Get layering a single column  in the center of the dough: overlap Spanish chorizo, overlap Provolone, spinach, overlap salami, sprinkle on oregano, dust on the garlic powder evenly, load on mozzarella 
3. On both sides, make diagonal slices from edge of the filling, to dough edge, every 1/2" all the way down (see photos), get braiding one over the other
4. Brush lightly with olive oil, season generously with Kosher salt and pepper, cook for 15 minutes
5. Heat through tomato sauce
6. Slice and dip, devour!

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WATCH SAM MAKE THIS >>>

Salami omelet

This was love at first sight!  

Serves 2-4

INGREDIENTS

• 3 eggs
• 25 thin salami slices (I used chili and fennel flavor)
• 3 tablespoons, finely diced salami
• 1 green pepper, finely diced
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• freshly ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small skillet on medium, brown diced salami and pepper, keep to one side
2. At same time, in another medium skillet, brown the remaining green pepper and sliced salami
3. Beat eggs, pour into the skillet with sliced salami and peppers, cook for 2 minutes on low/medium heat
4. Drop in the sour cream while still cooking and spread roughly over surface, cook until mostly set, then flip
5. Top with more sour cream and the diced salami and green peppers, fresh black pepper

WATCH SAM MAKE THIS >>>

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BAKED PENNE

Dear Hungry family, fear not, this recipe is super easy and made from basic pantry ingredients, so you can whip this up and have it on the table in under 30 minutes.

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb penne pasta, cooked al dente
• 1- 28oz can San Marzano tomatoes, crushed
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 12oz can tuna in oil, drained
• pinch Kosher salt
• few grinds freshly ground pepper
• 5oz ricotta cheese
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In large pot on medium heat, add tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, cook for 5-7 minutes
3. Mix ricotta and tuna into sauce, cook for 2 minutes, stir in cooked pasta
4. Add this to oven proof dish, sprinkle over parmesan, cook for 30 minutes

WATCH SAM MAKE THIS >>>

Pastrami reuben

Makes 1 sandwich

Sometimes less is more and in this case I mean in words. Just..make…it.

INGREDIENTS

My "Russian" Dressing:

• 2 tablespoons mayo
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon Sriracha
• 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup (I used, Sir Kensington Ketchup... anything will do)
• 1/2 - 1 teaspoon horseradish (to your taste)
• 2 grinds fresh black pepper
• pinch kosher salt

Sandwich:

• 4-6 deli pastrami slices
• Bag slaw mix
• 2 slices Swiss cheese slices
• 1 egg, over easy
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 slices Jewish rye bread

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix the slaw. In separate bowl, mix all dressing ingredients
2. Heat the pastrami in skillet on high heat for one minute, flip, layer cheese on top, heat for 1 more minute
3. Cook egg
4. Butter one side of each rye slice, grill that side only
5. Start layering, generously... Bread, dressing, pastrami/Swiss cheese, slaw, egg, top with other slice!

WATCH SAM MAKE IT >>> 

Beef and snow peas

Serves 4

This reminds me of home (Vancouver)... Chinese food, yep! And, this dish is so amazing and so quick to knock together, the cooking time is just a few minutes.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 large Skirt Steak, leave the fat, cut bite sized pieces against the grain
• 1/2 yellow onion, sliced
• 1 cup snow peas, whole
• 2 tablespoons Chill Paste (I used Garlic Sambal)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce (I used House Wife Soy)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons corn starch (to thicken)
• 4 Ready-cooked rice packs

DIRECTIONS

1. In a bowl mix the chili paste, soy, honey, sesame oil and corn starch
2. Make sure everything is prepped and ready
3. Heat carbon steel wok or large skillet to smoking hot, add 2 tablespoons oil, cook beef for 2 minutes then remove
4. Using same pan, add 2 tablespoons oil, throw in onion and snow peas, cook for 2 minutes maximum (keep it moving)
5. Add sauce and cooked beef, coat everything well, cook for one more minute
6. Heat rice in microwave
7. Eat!

VEGETABLE CHILAQUILES

Serves 6

Stupidly good all veggie version of chilaquiles. But trust me – it’s so good even your carnivore friends will eat the hell out of it.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 red pepper, diced small
• 1 small leek (white & light green parts only) thinly sliced
• 1  15 oz can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 large or 2 small zucchini, diced medium
• 1  15 ounce can black beans, drained
• ½ teaspoon each garlic powder, cayenne, Kosher salt and cumin
• 1 cup green enchilada sauce
• 6 cups, or 6 big handfuls tortilla chips
• 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
• 6 eggs

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and cook pepper, leek and corn until just beginning to soften
3. Add zucchini & black beans – mix well and cook about 2 minutes
4. Put ½ cup enchilada sauce in the bottom of a 9 inch cast iron pan or an 8x8 Pyrex dish
5. Top with ½ the tortilla chips, half the veggie mixture and ½ of the cheese - repeat layering
6. Bake in oven until top is melty, bubbly and delicious
7. When ready, fry eggs and serve chiliquiles with an egg on top

TIP: this mix could be used for a veggie fajita, enchilada or veggie tacos.

WANNA SEE SAM MAKE THIS?

The World’s Best Fried Egg Sandwich

Makes 1 sandwich (just double everything for 2)

If I had a restaurant, which I don't, this would be on the menu, you just must make this!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 slices sourdough bread, buttered
• 2 bacon strips
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon Kewpie Mayo (Japanese Mayo)
• 1-2 teaspoons Sriracha
• 3 slices Muenster cheese
• 1/4 cup Romaine lettuce, finely shredded
• 1/4 ripe avocado, sliced
• Kosher salt and fresh black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400, cook bacon for 10 minutes, or until slightly crispy
2. Grill your bread, on both sides, until golden
3. Preheat skillet, on medium, add butter, crack your egg, smash yolk move around a lil bit, flip and layer on cheese, cover with lid, while you cook this bit
4. Spread Mayo and Sriracha on toast. Layer on lettuce, bacon, egg/cheese and spread avocado on other slice toast, season.

WATCH ME MAKE IT

SAUSAGE AND SHRIMP JAMBALAYA

Serves 4-6

Remember in Seinfeld when Newman gets his hands on the jambalaya?

• 1 cup each diced celery, onion and green pepper

• 1 pound fully-cooked chorizo or andouille sausage, cut crosswise into 1/4” slices

• 2 large cloves garlic, crushed

• 1 cup white rice

• 1 tablespoon creole or Old Bay seasoning

• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth

• 3 Roma tomatoes, diced

• 1 pound raw, peeled & de-veined shrimp

• 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat a large skillet (that has a lid) on medium high, add about a tablespoon of oil and when hot put in celery, onion and green pepper - cook until softened and just until they get some color, about 5 minutes

2. Add sausage and cook 5 minutes or until it starts to brown

3. Add garlic and when fragrant, add creole or old bay and stir well to mix through

4. Add rice, stirring really well and let toast a couple minutes, then add broth, tomatoes and mix well

5. Bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer, cover and cook 15 minutes

6. Add shrimp, stir well and cover again - and in about 5 minutes the shrimp should be perfect or until all liquid is absorbed and rice is soft

7. Add parsley and serve!

Noodle Kugel

Serves 10-12

If there’s anything I know – it’s that I’m an old-school noodle kugel guy. That means no rosemary, no crème fraiche and no matsutake mushrooms. But it does mean sour cream, cottage cheese and corn flakes. And old-school delicious flavor.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 package (12 ounces) wide egg noodles
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 16 ounces sour cream
• 16 ounces low fat cottage cheese
• 1 cup sugar
• 5 eggs, beaten
• ½ cup raisins
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 cup corn flakes cereal

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook noodles according to package directions, drain.
3. In a separate bowl combine melted butter, sour cream, cottage cheese, sugar, eggs and raisins – mix.
4. Add drained noodles to bowl and combine well. Spoon into a greased 9”x13” pan. 
5. Combine brown sugar with corn flakes and sprinkle over the top, pushing down just slightly. 
6. Bake 60 minutes or until center is set. Let cool a bit before serving.

Herbed Pork Tenderloin

Serves 4-6 (or a bunch more if you used this for sandwiches)

Super simple, delicious (and really inexpensive) pork tenderloin that you will love.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pork tenderloins (I like most of the fat removed)
• 1/2-1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/2-1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 4 tablespoons mustard (I used Honey Truffle Mustard!)
• 1/2 cup Panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
• 1 teaspoon dried Thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried Rosemary
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 425
2. Season pork with generous pinch of Kosher salt and pepper on both sides
3. Coat the loins with mustard
4. In a large bowl mix Panko, thyme, rosemary, garlic powder
5. Add the tenderloins into the dry mix and coat generously, really pack it on.
6. Cook on a rack for 25 minutes or until 140-145 degrees

Sausage & Mixed Pepper Flatbread

Makes 4 flatbreads

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound hot Italian sausage
• One each red & yellow or orange bell pepper, cut into thin, 1 inch pieces
• 1 large clove garlic
• 5 ounces baby spinach
• 4 Naan bread, flat bread or whatever (instead of pizza) aaprox 4x 8 inches each
• ½ cup basil pesto
• Shredded mozzarella
• 1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese, shredded

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 425
2. Cook sausage until almost done and add peppers – allow to soften
3. Add garlic, and when fragrant after about a minute add spinach
4. When spinach has wilted, add salt & pepper to taste and remove from heat
5. Spread ¼ of the pesto on each naan, add some mozzarella, the sausage mixture, more mozzarella and finely the Parmesan
6. Bake until crispy,  melty and gorgeous – about 15 minutes

 

WATCH SAM MAKE THIS...

RED PEPPER & TOFU STIR FRY

Serves 2 as main

Perfect for meatless monday – fast and healthy dish I love any day of the week.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon peanut oil
• 1lb firm tofu, drained, 1/2'' cubes
• 2 teaspoons sesame chili oil
• 1 red pepper, 1/4'' strips
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced 
• 1 teaspoon arrowroot or corn starch
• 1/4 cup hot water
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 garlic clove, diced
• 1-2 teaspoons fresh ginger, finely diced
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 green onion, finely diced

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat wok on high, until smoking, add peanut oil
2. Add tofu, let it brown then flip and brown for another minute then keep moving cooking for 5-6 minutes
3. Add sesame chili oil, red pepper and red onion, cook for 4 minutes
4. In small bowl mix corn starch, hot water, soy, sugar and chicken broth – keep to one side
5. Add to wok, garlic and ginger fry for a minute
6. Pour in sauce, cook for 2 minutes to thicken
7. Serve over rice, garnish with green onion

TURKEY ENCHILADAS WITH POBLANOS & PUMPKIN

Serves 4

Talk about a delicious remix – turkey, roasted poblanos and pumpkin puree in the sauce. #leftoversrule

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 Poblano peppers
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1 garlic clove, sliced
• 1 cooked turkey thigh, diced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 6 white corn tortillas
• 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat hot grill, keep it on for later too
2. Blacken poblano skins under hot grill, wipe off skin with kitchen paper, de-seed and dice
3. Preheat oil large skillet to medium heat, cook onion for 2 minutes, add Poblano's and garlic cook for 2 more minutes
4. Add turkey to skillet, cook for 3 more minutes
5. Whisk cream and pumpkin, pour 1/2 of mixture into large oven proof dish
6. Soak tortillas for 30 seconds in broth
7. Divide mixture into 6 tortillas evenly and roll
8. Sprinkle over cheese and then evenly pour over the remaining sauce
9. Grill for 10 minutes, serve

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